Every month I share the books that I read that month. July started out slow, I was on vacation with my family and I only read one book during the first half of July. Last week was The Reading Rush which helped me read quite a few books! Let’s get into everything I read in July.

2018 was a really good reading year for me. This is slightly surprising because I had a baby in February and I honestly didn't know how much I would be able to read once Von was born. But, it was a great year for reading! As of today (December 18, 2018) I've read 72 books. My goal was to read 50 books and it's exciting that I read more than that! You can see all the books that I read here on my Goodreads Challenge. Today I'll be sharing a few of my favorite reads from the year that if you haven't read, you should definitely pick up! This list isn't in any particular order, it's just all the books that I really loved in 2018.This post does contain affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. All of the books that I am sharing today are ones that I loved! I wouldn't share them if I didn't! Click on the title of the book to read the book summary + to buy!

Favorite Fiction Books

The Nightingale - A great historical fiction novel about two sisters in France during WWII. At First Glance - A Christian romance novel that will leave you feeling good and it will make you want to watch a few Hallmark Christmas movies.Someday, Someday, Maybe - I LOVED this audiobook so much that I asked for a copy for Christmas (and my parents got it for me!) But this is a coming of age story about a girl who wants to be an actress. It's hilarious, real, and I loved it. The Storied Life of AJ Fikry- Every bookworm should read this one. Or even if you love books about being in a bookstore. This one will give you all the good feels and it's one that I need to add on my own library. So so good. God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian - This one surprised me. I read it because my husband loves Kurt Vonnegut books, and out of the three I've read, this one was my favorite. It was short, witty, and made me think about life and death in a different way. Simon VS. the Homo Sapiens Agenda- A cute YA contemporary all about a gay teen as he writes emails to a stranger and yeah, this one is just really cute. They also made a movie, Love, Simon which I still need to go see. A Thousand Perfect Notes - Ah. I love Cait's blog (PaperFury) and I loved her debut novel. This one will break your heart but in the very best ways.

Favorite Fantasy + Sci-Fi Books

The Night Circus - I picked this one up a few times and I couldn't get into it. So I listened to the audiobook and WOW. The world is amazing. The story is amazing. I promptly got my own copy once I was finished with this one. It's magical and you need to read it today. The Shades of Magic Trilogy - I fell in love with Victoria/VE Schwab's writing this year (as you'll see in a bit) but this trilogy was amazing. Schwab has a way of making you love all of her characters (even the bad ones and the really morally grey ones) ah.. This one is so good. I love Kell. Children of Blood and Bone- This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2018 and it did not disappoint. Magic and culture and just go read this book now. Vicious + Vengeful - Another set by VE Schwab. These books are dark but oh so good. I think that my favorite VE Schwab books are between Vicious and Our Dark Duet. These books are all about two college students who find that if they have a near-death experience they will come back with superpowers. And that's the simple explanation. To Kill A Kingdom - Another debut novel, and one that I loved. Technically this might be a Little Mermaid retelling, but it had sirens and pirates and the ocean and it was written so well. This one is a stand-alone (which I do prefer from time to time) and I can't wait to read more from this author. Fawkes - This was one of my most recent reads and it was incredible. Fawkes is a historical retelling with a magical twist. You've got magic and a plot for murder, just what every book needs.

Self-Help/Personal Growth

Make It Happen - LOVE LOVE LOVE. Go live the life you want and make things happen that you've been dreaming about for years. This is like a life coach in your pocket. A Simplified Life- Ready to change your life and make things more simple!? Simplify your home, life in general, and so much more with the help of this book. (You can also get $10 off if you buy A Simplified life with this link) The Life-Giving Home - One of my focuses for 2019 is to love my family well and make our home a place of love and belonging and this book gave me the kickstart I needed. The Miracle Morning - I learned the best way to start my morning, every morning. With the six simple practices in this book, your life will really change. I know that mine has. Capital Gaines - I listened to the audiobook, which is read by Chip himself and this book will make you laugh and give you great tips on how to go out and live your best life! If I had more time, this list would probably be longer. But these really are the best of the best that I read in 2018. Did you read any of these, if so, what did you think? And, tell me your favorite read in the comments, I'd love to hear about what you've been reading!